This study examined alcohol and the risk of SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus. Does drinking either raise or lower the risk of getting the disease? Researchers wanted to know.
Study
The researchers tested the idea that alcohol would be linked with lower risk for SLE compared to abstainers. Their logic was that alcohol’s anti-inflamatory action would be helpful.
Data came from nurses in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. NHS recruited over 121,000 nurses in 1976. NHSII recruited over 116,000 in 1989. They are all females living in the US.
Biennial questionnaires collected data on lifestyle and and environmental exposures. Alcohol consumption was measured every four years.
The researchers summarized their findings. “[T]hese large prospective cohorts of women followed for many years before the diagnosis of SLE. The study found a potential protective association between long-term alcohol consumption and reduced risk of developing SLE.”
SLE: The Disease
SLE is an autoimmune disease. For unknown reasons the immune system begins attacking the body’s own tissues.
Risk Factors
Risk factors are things that increase the chance that a person will develop a disease. Having risk factors doesn’t mean that a person will get the disease. And people with no risk factors can get the disease. There are only a few known risk factors for SLE.
- Female.
- Age 10 to 50.
- African American or Asian.
Symptoms
The symptoms of SLE vary widely from person to person. They may come and go. But almost everyone with SLE has joint pain and swelling. Some develop arthritis.
These are some other common symptoms.
- Malaise or overall discomfort.
- Fatigue
- Sensitivity to sunlight.
- Skin rash, most often on the face.
- Fever of unknown origin.
- Swollen lymph glands.
- Loss of hair.
- Mouth Sores.
- Chest pain when breathing deeply.
Other symptoms depend on which tissues are attacked by the immune system.
Conclusion
Drinking alcohol over a period of years might reduce the risk of developing SLE.
Resources: Alcohol and the Risk of SLE
Web Page
Source
Barbhaiya, M., et al. Influence of alcohol consumption on the risk of SLE among women in the Nurses’ Health Studies. Arth Care & Res, online DOI: 10.1002/a.cr.22945.
Note
A chance to help medical science. Together, NHS and NHS are the world’s largest and longest-running study of health. NHSIII is now recruiting nurses and nursing students. Help further our knowledge of alcohol and the risk of SLE. The NHSs are a major source of medical knowledge. To learn more, visit NHSIII.